Process for treating gaseous effluents developed in coffee roasting installation

(1)

US 20180304197A1

( 19 ) United States

( 12 ) Patent Application Publication ( 10 ) Pub . No

. : US 2018 / 0304197 A1

FURFORI et al .

_{( 43 ) Pub . Date :}

_Oct

_{. 25 , 2018}

( 54 ) PROCESS FOR TREATING GASEOUS

EFFLUENTS DEVELOPED IN COFFEE

ROASTING INSTALLATION

( 71 ) Applicant : LUIGI LAVAZZA S . p . A , TORINO

( IT )

Publication Classification

( 51 ) Int . CI

.

B01D 53 / 86 ( 2006 . 01 ) A23F 5 / 04 ( 2006 . 01 ) A23N 12 / 12 ( 2006 . 01 ) BOIJ 29 / 14 ( 2006 . 01 )

( 52 ) U . S . CI .

??? . . . BOID 53 / 864 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; A23F 5 / 04 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; A23N 12 / 125 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; B82Y 30 / 00 ( 2013 . 01 ) ; B01D 2257 / 502 ( 2013 . 01 ) ;

B01D 2257 / 708 ( 2013 . 01

) ; BOID 2258 / 0275

( 2013 . 01 ) ; B01J 29 / 14 ( 2013 . 01 )

( 72 ) Inventors : Stefania FURFORI

, Torino ( IT ) ;

Luciano ZATTARIN , Torino ( IT ) ;

Fabio Alessandro DEORSOLA , Torino

( IT ) ; Samir BENSAID , Torino ( IT ) ; Nunzio RUSSO , Torino ( IT ) ; Debora

FINO , Torino ( IT ) ; Raffaele PIRONE ,

Torino ( IT ) ; Marco PIUMETTI

, Cuneo

( IT )

( 73 ) Assignee : LUIGI LAVAZZA S . p . A , TORINO

( IT )

( 21 ) Appl . No . :

( 22 ) PCT Filed :

( 86 ) PCT No . :

§ 371 ( c ) ( 1 ) ,

( 2 ) Date :

15 / 768 , 058

Oct . 14 , 2016

PCT

/ IB2016 / 056154

( 57 )

ABSTRACT

A process for treating gaseous effluents developed in a coffee

roasting installation making it possible to treat gaseous

effluents developed in a coffee roasting installation , in which

the effluents are passed through an oxidative catalytic con

verter . Within the catalytic converter use is made of a

catalyst selected from the group including : a ) a catalyst

including a porous faujasite support containing copper oxide

nanoparticles in a quantity of between 2 % and 7 % of the

total weight of the catalyst ; b ) a catalyst including a porous

y - alumina support containing copper oxide nanoparticles in

a quantity of between 2 % and 7 % of the total weight of the

catalyst ; and c ) a catalyst including a mesoporous zeolite or silica support containing iron nanoparticles in a quantity of

between 2 % and 7 % of the total weight of the catalyst .

Apr

. 13 , 2018

( 30 )

Foreign Application Priority Data

Oct . 16 , 2015 ( IT ) . . .

. . . 102015000062406

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1 US 2018 / 0304197 A1

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2 US 2018 / 0304197 A1

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4 US 2018 / 0304197 A1

(6)

US 2018 / 0304197 A1

Oct . 25 , 2018

PROCESS FOR TREATING GASEOUS

EFFLUENTS DEVELOPED IN COFFEE

ROASTING INSTALLATION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED

APPLICATIONS

0001 ] This application is a National Stage of International

Application No . PCT / M2016 / 056154 filed Oct . 14 , 2016 ,

claiming priority based on Italian Patent Application No .

102015000062406 filed Oct . 16 , 2015 .

nature of the roasting process , the presence of sulfur

containing compounds in the gaseous effluents requiring

treatment , which can poison the catalyst and reduce its

purifying ability , and the volumes of gaseous effluent , which

can carry over appreciable volumes of catalyst thus requir

ing substantial modification of the layout of installations

( particularly for the LNT technique ) .

[ 0009 ] In most cases converters comprise a ceramic sub strate coated with a catalytic impregnating agent containing noble metals , nanoparticles of copper oxide , nanoparticles of

iron oxide , and typically one or more metals of the platinum

group ( platinum , palladium , rhodium ) .

[ 0010 ] The extensive use of a large quantity of noble

metals , nanoparticles of copper oxide and nanoparticles of

iron oxide nevertheless gives rise to huge costs .

[ 0011 ] One object of this invention is to provide an

improved process for treating the gaseous effluents devel

oped in a coffee roasting installation , with the possibility of

implementing the process using more economical materials

having a great ability to oxidise nitrogen - containing mol

ecules and volatile organic compounds .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[ 0002 ] This invention relates to a process for treating

gaseous effluents developed in a coffee roasting installation .

[ 0003 ] More specifically this invention relates to a process

in which the said effluents are passed through an oxidative

catalytic converter .

Background

[ 0004 ] The process of roasting raw coffee is associated

with the development of volatile organic compounds ( VOC )

linked to the flavour of coffee . Many of these organic

compounds which contain nitrogen atoms in their structure

give rise to the formation of nitrogen oxides when passed

through an oxidative catalytic converter typically used to

comply with the regulations imposing limits on VOC and

carbon monoxide ( CO ) emissions . These regulations require polluting compounds such as nitrogen oxides and organic

compounds to be greatly reduced .

[ 0005 ] At the present time catalytic converters are an

essential component of most exhaust systems , used particu

larly in the motor vehicle context to reduce emissions as a

result of their ability to catalyse reactions that can convert

the pollutants into harmless or not very harmful substances . [ 0006 ] The post - treatment techniques for reducing NO ,

now established industrially are the SCR ( Selective Cata

lytic Reduction ) technique and the LNT ( Lean NOx Trap )

technique . In SCR the NO , molecules react with a reducing

compound ( generally ammonia or a precursor of it , for

example urea ) to form water and nitrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a temperature range between 300 and 400° C . The LNT technique on the other hand provides for trapping nitrogen oxides by adsorbing them in the form of nitrates

onto a catalyst deposited on a solid support . Because the

storage capacity of the adsorbent is limited , the trap has to

be periodically regenerated through introducing a reducing

substance for a very short time , thus giving rise to discon

tinuous functioning of the reduction system .

[ 0007 ] Both the techniques acting to reduce nitrogen

oxides only require modifications to the layout of current

installations through the addition of a further reactor and the

possible addition of a reducing agent ( typically ammonia ) ,

with consequent higher demands on the safety conditions for

installations .

[ 0008 ] Further disadvantages associated with applying the

two abovementioned techniques to the coffee roasting pro

cess lie mainly in use of the reducing agent , which may give

rise to the possible release of the latter into the environment ,

with a consequent need to provide for an additional catalyst

in order to remove it , the difficulty of correctly adding the

reducing agent because of the extremely discontinuous

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[ 0012 ] These and other objects will be accomplished

according to the invention through a treatment process of the type defined above , primarily characterised in that in the catalytic converter use is made of a catalyst selected from

the group comprising :

[ 0013 ] a ) a catalyst comprising a porous faujasite support

containing copper ( Cu ) nanoparticles in a quantity of

between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably around 5 % of the total

weight of the catalyst ;

[ 0014 ] b ) a catalyst comprising a porous y - alumina

( y - A1203 ) support containing copper ( Cu ) nanoparticles in a

quantity of between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably around 5 %

of the total weight of the catalyst ; and

[ 0015 ] c ) a catalyst comprising a mesoporous zeolite or

silica support containing iron ( Fe ) nanoparticles in quantities

of between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably around 5 % of the

total weight of the catalyst .

[ 0016 ) The Cu or Fe nanoparticles may conveniently be

deposited on corresponding supports using the IWI ( Incipi

ent Wetting Impregnation ) technique .

[ 0017 ] In the case of catalysts containing iron nanopar ticles , the aforementioned mesoporous zeolite or silica is conveniently a zeolite or SBA 15 ( Santa Barbara Amor phous ) silica .

[ 0018 ] Conveniently , although not necessarily , before the

flue gases are passed into the catalytic converter the above

mentioned gaseous effluents developed during the roasting

of raw coffee are heated to a temperature of between 350° C .

and 500° C . , preferably between 400° C . and 450° C . , for

example using a post - combustion unit .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[ 0019 ] Further features and advantages of the invention

will be apparent from the following detailed description with

reference to the appended drawings provided purely by way

of a non - limiting example , in which :

[ 0020 ] FIG . 1 is a block diagram of a coffee roasting

installation associated with a gaseous effluent treatment

system operating according to the process according to this

(7)

US 2018 / 0304197 A1

Oct . 25 , 2018

[ 0021 ] FIGS . 2 to 4 are comparative diagrams relating to

the output or yield of CO2 and NOx which can indicatively

be achieved using a process according to this invention .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[ 0037 ] FIGS . 2 to 4 show comparative diagrams illustrat

ing yield of CO2

, yield of NO , and NO , concentration in

relation to the temperature shown on the abscissa for the

three catalysts described above , determined in simulation

tests carried out by oxidising a “ test ” mixture of molecules

typically developed in the roasting of coffee , and in particu

lar a test mixture having the composition shown in the table

below :

[ 0022 ] In FIG . 1 , 1 indicates as a whole a roasting or

torrefaction apparatus , of a type which is in itself known . In

this apparatus there is a roasting chamber which receives a

quantity of raw coffee that is to be roasted .

10023 ] A flow of hot air at a temperature of the order of 500° C . , generated for example by means of a burner 2 , also

of a type which is in itself known , fed with a mixture of air

and methane , is also fed to the roasting chamber in apparatus

Compound Concentration Carbon monoxide Pyridine Methanol Oxygen Helium 450 ppm 280 ppm 250 ppm 10 % Remainder

0024 When in operation gaseous effluents are produced

in roasting apparatus 1 and in the embodiment illustrated in

FIG . 1 they pass to a cyclone 3 , at a temperature of for

example between 150° C . and 250° C .

[ 0025 ] Cyclone 3 carries out preliminary processing of the

gaseous effluents , separating particles of greater inertia from

the flow .

[ 0026 ] On leaving cyclone 3 the gaseous effluents are

passed to an oxidative catalytic converter 5 by means of a

blower device 4 .

[ 0027 ] On leaving blower 4 the gaseous effluents have a

temperature of for example between 100° C . and 200° C .

[ 0028 ] Conveniently , although not necessarily , before

reaching catalytic converter 5 the said gaseous effluents pass

into an after - burner 6 , advantageously fed with the same

combustible mixture as used for burner 2 .

[ 0029 ] When they enter oxidative catalyser 5 the gaseous

effluents are therefore at a higher temperature , of for

example between 350° C . and 500° C . , and preferably

between 400° C . and 450° C .

[ 0030 ] In accordance with this invention one of the fol

lowing catalysts is advantageously used in catalytic con

verter 5 :

[ 0031 ] a ) a catalyst comprising a porous faujasite support ,

containing copper nanoparticles in a quantity of substan

tially between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably approximately

5 % of the total weight of the catalyst ;

[ 0032 ] b ) a catalyst comprising a porous y - alumina sup

port , containing copper nanoparticles in a quantity of sub

stantially between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably approxi

mately 5 % of the total weight of the catalyst ; and

[ 0033 ] c ) a catalyst comprising a mesoporous zeolite or

silica support , containing iron nanoparticles in a quantity of

substantially between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably approxi

mately 5 % of the total weight of the catalyst .

[ 0034 ] Conveniently the said mesoporous zeolite or silica

is a SBA 15 ( Santa Barbara Amorphous ) zeolite .

[ 0035 ] The copper or iron nanoparticles are conveniently

deposited on corresponding supports using the IWI ( Incipi

ent Wetting Impregnation ) technique .

[ 00361 Simulations and tests performed have demon

strated that the catalysts listed above make it possible to

achieve quite high selective oxidation of CO , nitrogen containing molecules and organic compounds , while at the

same time preventing or reducing the oxidation of nitrogen

atoms . These catalysts have demonstrated that they produce

few nitrogen oxides and virtually no emissions of carbon

monoxide , providing almost complete conversion of all the

molecules present in the system into CO2

, N , and H2O .

[ 0038 ] The graph in FIG . 2 shows how the three catalysts

described above provide a high yield in terms of carbon

dioxide , more than 70 % , over an extended temperature

range . The catalyst having the highest performance is the

catalyst comprising 5 % by weight on a y - alumina substrate ,

the yield from it throughout the temperature range from 375°

C . to 500° C . being over 60 % , reaching 100 % above 435° C .

[ 0039 ] From FIG . 4 it can be seen how the concentration

of NO , forming during the test with the copper - based

catalyst on the faujasite support is always below 25 g / Nm " ,

with a NO , yield of below 5 % ( FIG . 3 ) .

[ 0040 ] The iron - based catalyst on SBA - 15 zeolite or silica

tends asymptotically to a yield of 25 % as temperature

increases ( FIG . 3 ) .

[ 0041 ] With regard to the copper - based catalyst on a

y - alumina substrate , it will instead be seen that nitrogen

oxides increase with increasing temperature .

[ 0042 ] Of course , without altering the principle of the

invention , embodiments and details of embodiments may be

varied extensively in relation to what has been described and

illustrated purely by way of a non - limiting example without thereby going beyond the scope of the invention as defined

in the appended claims .

1 . A method for processing the gaseous effluents devel

oped in a coffee roasting installation ( 1 ) , wherein said

effluents are conveyed through an oxidising catalytic con

verter ( 5 ) ,

the method being characterised in that in said catalytic

converter ( 5 ) use is made of a catalyst chosen in the

group formed by

a ) a catalyst comprising a porous faujasite support includ

ing nanoparticles of copper oxide in an amount com

prised between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably equal to

about 5 % , of the total weight of the catalyst ;

b ) a catalyst comprising a porous y - alumina support

including nanoparticles of copper oxide in an amount

comprised between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably equal to

about 5 % , of the total weight of the catalyst ; and

c ) a catalyst comprising a porous zeolite or mesoporous

silica support , containing iron nanoparticles in an amount comprised between 2 % and 7 % , and preferably